Attachment for windshield vision glasses



July 9, 1929. an. BELL ATTACHMENT FOR WINDSHIELD VISION GLASSES FiledJuly 22,-1927 ATTORNEY S/O/VEY f7. 5544 Patented July 9, 1929.

UNITED STATES SIDNEY B. BELL, OF ROWAYTON, CONNECTICUT.

ATTACHMENT FOB WINDSHIELD VISION GLASSES.

Application filed July 22,

This invention relates to an improved device to be detachably secured toa windshield vision glass, for'preventing the formation of ice on theglass, thereb enabling the wiper with which windshiel s are now commonlyequipped to function in a proper manner.

A still further object of my invention is the provision of a device ofthe character indicated which will tend to prevent the formation of mistor vapor on the glass in the line of vision of the driver, due to risein the temperature within the car or other vehicle equipped with mydevice.

A still further object of my invention is the provision of a device ofthe character indicated which is so constructed and arranged that thesame may be positioned on the windshield vision glass in any positiondesired by the user, thereby enabling the same to be properly placed atall times with respect to the line of vision of each individual driver.A still further object of my invention is the provision of a device ofthe character indicated, so simple in construction as to enable the sameto reach the ultimate consumer at the minimum price, enabling theconsumer, should the device be lost, to replace the same at a nominalsum.

Another object of m invention is the provision of a device of t echaracter indicated which can be readily removed when not required, andas easily applied again when needed. r i

In general my preferred form of device consists of anelectrically-heated member adapted to be detachably held to the windshield vision glass preferably by suction cups or equivalent securingmeans, the current for energizing the heating element being taken fromthe car battery or other convenient source of supply. The device, asabove indicated, may be attached or detached instantly without the useof tools of any kind and may be located with respect to the wiper tosuit the individual.

In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1. shows in elevation the windshieldvision glass of a vehicle with my device in place thereon;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of my improved device;

Fig. 3 is a section thereof taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

1927. Serial No. 20%,592.

Fig. 4 isa view in perspective illustrating a modification of theapparatus; Flg. 5 is a view partly in section illustrat- 111% modifiedsupporting structure; and 1g. 6 is a view in elevation of themodification of Fig. 5. l 0 Referring to the drawings in detail, myimproved device comprises two flat metal plates designated 1 and 2,respectively, spaced apart slightly to provide for the reception of aninterposed heating element 3 and electric insulating strips 4 and 5either side of the heating element. he ends of the plates 1 and 2 arepreferably bent slightly out of the plane of the outer face of the plate2, for example and receive supporting members 6 and 7 for attachingsuction cups 8 and Q, res ectively.

The plates 1 and 2 are pre erably constructed so as to be attached toeach other by rivets or eyelets 10, which when headed up, clamp thesupporting members 6 and 7, the heating. element 3 and insulatingmembers 4 and 5 securely to each other so as to provide in effect aunitary structure and Imay make this casing waterproof and possiblyairtight by some means, such as gasket or a ssaling compound asindicated at 17 in Binding posts or terminals 11 and 12 are rigidlyattached to the device and provide means for connecting the heatingelement toany convenient source of. electric power, such as anautomobile battery.

Referring to Fig. 1, the device as awhole has been designated 13, whilethe windshield vision glass to which it is attached is designated 14.The usual wiper 15 which may be ofany of the well known types availableis designated 16. Y

I have illustrated my device as attached to the left side of thewindshield facing forward and in close enough proximity to that part ofthe glass swept by the wiper to heat the same sufficiently to preventthe formation of ice thereon. It'is to be understood, however, that thispositioning of the device is optional with the individual driver,-aswill be obvious, and maybe mounted on either side of the glass butpreferably on the inside.

By bending the ends' of the device out of the lane of the outer face ofthe member which 1t is desired to contact with the glass '14, it

will be seen that the cups 8 and 9 may be depressed sufficiently toenable them to cling v to the glass 14, at the same time bringingelement, I may use different heating mediums such as hot air generatedby the engine or hot water drawn from the engine water circulatingsystem. One of such formsis shown in Fig. 4, wherein the plates 1' and 2are similar respectively to plates 1 and 2 of the form-shown in Figs. 2and 3. In place of binding posts 11 and 12, I provide an inlet pipe 18for either hot air or hot water and an outlet pipe 19 thus providingfree'circulation for the heating medium into and out of the chamber 20formed by the plates 1 and 2', the gasket 17 providing a seal betweensaid plates.

In Figs. 5 and 6 I have shown a different form of attachment wherein thedevice 13 may be held in either of two positions; in contact with theglass 14 or as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 5, swung up about the pivot21 to an inoperative position. Preferably for holding the unit 13 ineither position, I oifset the pivot rod 21, which is a continuation ofthe supporting rod 22 for the unit 13, thus providing resilient pressuremeans as at 23. The pivot rod 21 is, mounted for a swinging movement inbracket 24 which is in turn fastened to the metal frame of thewindshield. I

ice thereon, thereby enabling the wiper to work properly at all times,and that the device when not needed may be quickly removed from theglass without necessitating the use of tools or other accessories, thusit is stored away until needed again when it may be applied in a momentand without the requirement of any special skill on the part'of theuser. I

It' will be understood that While I have herein described in detail aparticular em- 1. In combinatioma air of superimposedplates, aninterposed ends of said plates being bent out of the bodiment of myinvention for purposes of full disclosures, and some detailed featureswhich I I am specifically claiming for aspecial advantage, many changesand modifi'r cations may be made in the articular construction andarrangement 0 parts without departing from the broad scope of minvention which is outlined in the su -joined claims. i

What I claim is:

eating element, the

plane of one of said plates, suction cups,-

supports therefor positioned between said plates, and means clampingsaid plates upon the cu supports to hold the cups in position w erebythe structure may be detachably held to a vision glass with one of saidplates in contact therewith.

2. In a heater, the combination of a pair of substantially flat plateshaving the ends thereof bent upward andoutward andthe outer plate havingoverlapping edges to'en-i gage the second plate, an electricalresistance element positioned within said plates, insulating meanssurrounding said resistance element and firmly held between said plates,electrical terminal elements passing through said outer plate, saidsecond plate adapted to -.lie flat on a surface, supporting meansreceived in the outermost ends of said plates, and mounting means heldby said supports and adapted to engage the flat surface against whichsaid second plate is positioned for holding said heater inassociation-with said flat surface, said plates being pinched tightlytogether to prevent moisture from reaching said electrical resistanceelement.

3. In a heater for windshield vision glasses, the c'ombination-"of twosuperimpoxd metal plates having their edg'es interlocked to hold the twoplates to each other,

an electrical resistance element intermediate the two plates andenclosed thereb electrical insulating material at each sije of saidresistance element for maintaining the resistance element out of contactwith said plates, and vacuum cups carried by the outer ends of theplates and adapted to hold the device in place'on a vision glass'withone of said plates which is heat conductive in contact with the glass toheat the same by conduction.

4. A- heater for vision glasses comprising a casing, one side of thecasing comprising a flat elongated plate of heat conductive materialcovering the entire area bounded b the peripheral edges of the casing,an e ectric resistance element supported in the casing and insulatedtherefrom, said element being arran ed to cov'ersubstantially the entirearea 0 said plate and being in direct contactual engagement therewith,and means for yieldably supporting said heater in position to arrangesaid plate in abutting relation with reference to a predeterminedsurface of the vision glass to transmit the heat of said element to thethrough saidplate. 5. heater for vision glasses comprising a casing, oneside of the casing comprising a flat elongated plate of heat conductivematerial covering the entire area bounded by theperipheral edges of thecasing, an electric resistance element su ported in the casing andinsulatedthere i'om, said element being arranged to cover substantiallythe glass directly entire area ofsaid plate and being in directcontactual engagement therewith, means for yieldably supporting saidheater in position to arrange said plate in abutting relation withreference to a predetermined surface of the vision glass to transmit theheat of said element to the glass directly through said plate, and saidcasing including end extensions oifset with respect to said plate andproviding means of attachment for said supporting means.

6. A heater for vision glasses comprising a casing. one side of thecasing comprising a fiat elongated plate of heat conductive materialcovering the entire area bounded by the peripheral edges of the casing,an electric resistance element supported in the casing and insulatedtherefrom, said element being arranged to cover substantially the entirearea of said plate and being in direct contactual engagement therewith,

means for yieldably supporting said heater in position to arrange saidplate inabutting relation with-reference to a predetermined surface ofthe vision glass to transmit the heat of said element to the glassdirectly through said plate, and said casing including another andouter-plate interlocked with July, 1927.

SIDNEY R. BELL.

